Collar support



C. A. CALDER COLLAR SUPPORT Aug. 11, 1953 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR. Caesar/4 Ca/dez" BY 4 rmRA/E Patented Aug. 11, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAR SUPPORT Caesar A. Calder, Verona, N. J. Application December 23, 1948, Serial No. 66,900

18 Claims.

This invention relates to double shirt collar supports.

An object of this invention is to provide a shirt collar support of the character described, die cut from a single fiat piece of cardboard or the like, semi-stiff sheet material, and which comprises an inner flap and. an outer flap both of generally arcuate shape, the end edges of said flaps being parallel with one another, and the end edges of each flap comprising continuations of the end edges of the other flap, said flaps being joined together at two spaced portions on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps, hence being separated by a slit between the two joined portions and by slits extending from the joined portions to the outer end edges, whereby to permit said flaps to be folded about the said joined portions to form a generally U-shaped collar support which may be fitted into the collar band of a shirt with the outer wings of said flaps extending generally rearwardly and outwardly for the supporting of the collar band against crushing, and to keep the shirt collar in neat and uncrushed condition. With such construction, when the flaps are folded about the joined portions, the outer lower points of the inner flap will extend considerably beyond the outer lower points of the outer flap, for engaging and pressing against the collar band at opposite sides, and the front or middle portion of the front flap will be inclined downwardly and forwardly to conform to the generally downwardly and forwardly inclined front of the collar band, so as to prevent the collar support from falling out and for retaining the shape of the collar band by means of three point pressure, to wit, forwardly at the front, and outwardly and rearwardly at the sides of the collar.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 44,311, filed on August 14, 1948, for Double Shirt C'ollar Supports, now abandoned.

A further object of this invention is to make the outer edges of the collar support wavy so as to better engage the collar band when the support is inserted thereinto.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a collar support of the character described, in which the outer flap is of less width than the inner flap, but in which the outer flap is formed at its middle with a downwardly projecting tab, and the inner flap is formed at its middle with a cut-out conforming to said projecting tab. With such construction, the projecting tab gives additional height at the front of the collar to 2 make up for the fact that the outer flap is of less width than the inner flap and a saving in cardboard is effected, because when blanking out the collar supports, the tab projection on one collar support forms the cut-out of the next adjacent collar support.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a collar support of the character de scribed, cut from a single piece of board of one length comprising a pair of flaps joined at two spaced portions and forming wings at the outer ends of the flaps to create pressure against the sides of the inner collar band of the shirt and to press the projecting tab against the front of the collar at the same time. By joining the two flaps at two points on opposite sides of the middle of the flaps, when the flaps are folded, the front of the outer flap will incline downwardly and forwardly so as to conform. to the natural downward and forward inclined shape of the front of the shirt collar, and this part of the outer flap is spaced from the inner flap which inclines at its front portion, somewhat downwardly and rearwardly. The edges of the front and rear flaps between the joined portions move away from each other when folding the flaps about the joined portions, to permit the front portion of the outer flap to incline into frustro-conical shape, and such shape would not be possible if the flaps were joined all the way at the front. When the flaps are folded, said flaps are not in face to face contact at any place. The result is that a truss effect is obtained with the flaps being inclined downwardly and away from each other, so that a down or side pressure or blow on the collar support will not crush said support and will not let the support turn over or rotate. The lower edges of the flaps are spaced from one another when the collar support is inserted into the shirt collar. With the construction embodying the invention, the back pressure of the rear ends of the wings of the inner flap tends to straighten the rear of the shirt collar and gives it a desirable neat appearance.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a double shirt collar support of the character described, made of a single piece of board or a single blank and being generally of arcuate shape and the side edges of the support being parallel but generally wavy and said board being die out to form a front flap and a rear flap joined at two spaced points at opposite sides of the middle. With such construction, even though the end edges of the support are parallel, yet when the two flaps are folded about the joined portions and assume a generally U-shape or horse-shoe shape, the outer edges of the inner flaps are inclined downwardly and rearwardly, whereas the outer edges of the outer flap inclines downwardly and forwardly, so that the sharp lower edges of the inner flap project beyond the outer edges of the outer flap and provide extra length to press the shirt collar band outwardly and rearwardly. Thus, with such construction, even though the shirt collar support when flat, is of uniform length, yet when the support is folded, the inner flap extends beyond the ends of outer flap thereby providing a very desirable supporting quality while conserving cardboard.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a collar support of the character described, the front flap of which is provided with a central downward extension and with tab means at the lower end of the extension movable out of the plane of said extension to a position at right angles thereto and having one or more tongues or projections which may be received beneath the upper end of the front of the shirt, adjacent the collar band so as to retain the collar support from being accidentally dislodged from the shirt.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a double shirt collar support of the character described, the front flap of which is formed with means engageable beneath the shirt front to retain said collar support within the neck band, of the shirt, the construction being such that an upward pull on the collar support at the front will not dislodge the retaining means, and

the retaining means furthermore comprising a plurality of spaced tongues projecting from the collar support and engaging beneath the front of the shirt.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a strong and durable shirt collar support of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to apply, and which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown various. illustrative embodiments of this invention:

Fig. 1 is a topplan view of the shirt collar support embodying the invention in blank form;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the shirt collar support. showing the same in the position it assumes when inserted within a shirt collar;

Fig. 3, is a top plan view of the upper portion of the shirt with the shirt collar support embodying the invention inserted therein; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I designates a double shirt collar support embodying the invention, andshowing the same in flat diecut blank condition. The support In may be made of cardboard, paper board, or any other suitable semi-stiff, sheet material, which has some inherent resiliency.

The support. I0 comprises an inner flap II and an outer flap I2, said flaps are generally of arcuate shape. The inner flap has a middle curved portion I3 and wings I4 inclined outwardly therefrom in the same direction. The outer flap I2 has a central curved portion I6 and wings I1 inclined outwardly therefrom in the same direction as the wings I4. The inner and outer flaps I I, I2 are separated by a die-cut centrally curved slit I8 and a pair of inclined slits I9 extending to the outer edges of the flaps. Between the slit I8, and the slits I 9 are uncut, foldable portions which join the flaps II, I2.

The joined portions 20 are located symmetrically on opposite sides of the central slit I8 and are located between the slits I9 and I8. Thus the joined portions 20 are inclined downwardly and outwardly. The slits I9 are parallel to the edges 22 and 23 of the wings I4 and I1, respectively. Furthermore, said edges 22 and 23 are parallel to one another.

The width of the wings I4 is greater than the width ofthe wings I1. The outer end edgeslt of the wings I4 are generally parallel to one another and the. end edges. 26 of the wing I1 are. parallel to each other and form extensions of the edges 25. Said edges. are preferably pinked or wavy. The outer flap I2 is formed with a central tab projection or extension 21 which has an outer curved edge 28. The width of the tab 21. is sub stantially equal to the width between the. outer ends of the joined portions 20. The inner flap I I is formed with a centralv cut-out 29 complementary to the. shape of the tab 21'. Thus, when a number of supports I0 are blanked from a single sheet of cardboard, the tab 21', of one support is made'from the cut-out 29 of the next adjacent support. The cut-out 29. has an inner edge 3 II conforming to the edge 28. The end edges 3| of the tab 21 conform to the end edges 32, of the, cutout 29.

By making the slit I8, there is. formed, an edge on the inner flap between the joined portions 20 and an edge 36 on the. outer flap between said joined portions. By making the slits I9, there is formed edges. 31. onv the wings. of the, inner flap andedges 38. conforming thereto, onthe wings of the outer. flap.

To insert the collar support [0. into the collar All of the shirt 4|, the inner and outer flaps are flolded about the joining portions20andthe col lar support. is pressed into. Ll-shaped, condition, as, shown in Fig. 2 of. the. drawing. When this. is done, the edges 35, 36 separate as shown in Fig. 2, and the edges 31, 3.8 also separate somewhat. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, the edge 36,0f the. outer flap is below the edge 35 of the inner flap. Furthermore, the front portion I6 of the outer flap together withitstabprojection21 isinclined downwardly and forwardly and assumes somewhat of a frustro-conical. shape, whereasthe front portion I3- of. the. inner flap inclines. downwardly and rearwardly. In fact, the front. and rear flaps do not have face to face contact at. any point, and said flapsv incline downwardly and away from each other. to produce a truss effect which helps. keep the support against crushing, turning or rotating should a top or side blow be struck against the. support.

It will be furthermore notedthat when the fiaps are folded, the end edges 25 of'the inner flaps become inclined downwardly and rearwardly whereas the end edges 26 of the outer flap become inclined downwardly and forwardly. Thus, thelower ends of the inner flap extend considerably beyond the lower corners ofthe ends of thev outer flap, thereby pressing against the rear portions ofthe innercollar band- 40,

thereby tending to straighten the rear of the collar band and to keep the support from falling out and keeping the front 'portion l6 of the outer flap within the front of the collar.

The tab 21 provides additional height to stiffen the front of the collar and such extra height is accomplished without the use of additional cardboard, because the tab of one collar support is made of the cut-out of the next adjacent co1- lar support.

It will be noted that although the collar support is of uniform length, the edges 25, 26 being extensions of one another, and the edges at one end being parallel to the edges at the other end, yet when the support is folded, the inner flap extends considerably beyond the outer flap. This extra length for the inner flap is obtained notwithstanding the fact that the support is of uniform length throughout from side to side. It will be noted that the front of the shirt collar naturally inclines forwardly and downwardly, and the portion it of the shirt collar support, as well as the tab 2'! conforms thereto as illustrated in Fig. 4. of the drawing.

Means is provided to retain the collar support ill against accidentally dislodgement from the shirt upon inserting the collar support into the shirt collar. To this end, the tab 27 is formed with a U-shaped slit 45. The slit has a central portion 56, and portions 4? extending towards the edge 28, but terminating short thereof and thereby forming a tongue 49 projecting toward the slit 8. The tab '2? is furthermore formed with a pair of similar symmetrical slits 5?] extending inwardly from the edges 3! of tab 2"! toward the outer ends of the slit portions 41 but terminating short of said ends. Thus, be tween the slits and the outer ends of the slit portions 47 are crease or foldable portions 5! which may or may not be scored as desired. It will be noted that the slits 50 are inclined downwardly and outwardly being substantially parallel to the edges 23 of wings I! thereby forming extensions 52 provided with triangular corners or points 53. The tongue 49 and the extensions 52 form a stop member 54 foldable about the portions 5! from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. Said member 54 is foldable through an angle of 90 degrees to bring the tongue 39 forwardly to horizontal position and in such position the triangular portions 53 will project forwardly and beyond the tab 2?. The tongue 49 and the triangular portions or points 53 will project beneath the front 55 of the shirt 4! so as to be located between said front of the shirt and the back 56 of the shirt.

It will be noted that when the collar support is inserted into the shirt, said collar support is first folded about portions 20 and then flexed into horseshoe shape. As the collar support is inserted into the shirt collar, the outer edge 28 of member 5% can be pressed against the upper surface of the back 56 of the shirt so as to swing member it about said portions 5!, bringing the tongue and the points 53 down so that they may be readily slipped beneath the front of the shirt adjacent the collar band, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

It will now be understood that the tongue 49 and the points 53 serve to retain the shirt collar support within the collar of the shirt, and an upward pull on the central portion of the collar support would merel cause downward pressure against the tongue 49 and the points 53 thereby causing the extensions 52 to press up aga nst 6 the edges of tab 21 formed by the slits 50, and member 54 would not be able to straighten out. The collar support is therefore firmly held within the shirt collar.

It will now be observed that the shirt collar support is retained in place by the three-point contact with the shirt, that is, by contact with the tongue 49 and the two points or triangular portions 53. The shirt collar support is thus retained in level or balanced position within the shirt collar.

It will now be understood that the collar support embodying the invention protects against pressure at the front of the collar and at the sides of the collar, giving the maximum resistance to pressure where needed. The outer flap at the front inclines downwardly and forwardly and conforms to the front of the collar. The extra tab projection on the outer flap gives height at the front of the collar to make up for height of the inner flap without waste of board because the tab projection is cut from the inner flap portion of the next piece.

It will be further understood that there is provided in accordance with this invention, a collar support cut of a piece of board of one length joined at two points, the wings of the inner flap pressing rearwardly and outwardly at the back of the inner collar band at its sides, and the wings of the outer flap create pressure against the sides of the inner collar band of the shirt. The pressure of the inner flaps rearwardly serves to press the projecting tab against the front of the collar at the same time.

It will now be understood that the end edges of the piece of cardboard of which the collar support is made, are generally parallel and pinked, yet when the two flaps are folded, the lower edge of the inner flap is extended back beyond the outer ends of the outer flap, and the sharp lower edges of the inner flap catch the inner collar band at the rear in outwardly and rearwardly inclined directions to make for three point contact, that is, at the two sides at the rear of the collar, and at the front or middle of the collar. Also, once the support is in place, it will not fall out because of such three point contact.

It will be noted that when the flaps are folded, the outer flap inclines downwardly and forwardly Whereas the inner flap inclines downwardly and inwardly. The edges of the front and rear flaps between the joined portions move away from each other to permit the front portion of the outer fiap to incline into frusto-conical shape and such shape would not be possible if the flaps were joined all the way or for an extended length at the front. The flaps are not in face to face contact at any place. The result is a truss effect so that down or side pressure or a blow will not crush the collar support and will not let the support turn over or rotate. With such construction, the lower edges of the flaps are spaced from one another. Furthermore, the back pressure of the rear ends of the wings of the inner flap tends to straighten the rear of the shirt collar, giving it a desirable appearance.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying :middle portions outwardly to invention, I claim as Letters Patent of the .and the outer ends of the flaps, and a member on the outer flap foldable to a position at right :angles to said flap and having a tongue adapted to project forwardly of the front flap when said .member is folded relative to said flap. 2. A collar support blank made of a single piece of sheet material, and adapted to be placed within the neck band of a collar of a shirt and comprising an inner flap and an outer flap coextensive therewith, and joined together at two spaced portions on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps,

said flaps being separated between said joined portions and between the joined =outer ends of the portions and the flaps, said flaps having middle inclined from said the same side, and

portions and parallel wings :a member on the outer flap foldable to a position at right angles to said flap and having a tongue adapted to project forwardly of. the front flap when said member is folded relative to said flap.

3. A collar support blank made of a single piece of sheet material, and adapted to be placed within the neck band of a collar of a shirt and comprising an inner flap and an outer flap coextensive therewith, joined together at two spaced portions on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps, and said flaps-being separated between said joined portions and between the joined portions and the outer ends of the flaps, said flaps having middle portions and parallel wings inclined from said middle portions outwardly to the same side, the outer end edges of each flap being parallel to one another and the outer end edges of one flap being continuationsof the outer end edges of the other flap, and a member on the outer flap foldable to a position at right angles to said flap and having a tongue adapted to project forwardly of the front flap when said member is folded relative to said flap;

a. A collar support blank made of a single piece of sheet material, and adapted to be placed within the neck band of a collar of a shirt andicomprising an inner flap and an outer flap coextensive therewith, and joined together at two spaced portions on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps, and said flaps being separated between said joined portions and between the joined portions and the outer ends of the flaps, said flaps having middle portions and parallel wings inclined from said middle portions outwardly to the same side, the outer end edges of each flap being parallel to one another and the outer end edges of one flap being continuations of the outer end edges of the other flap, the outer flap being formed with a central. tab extension and the inner flap being formed with a cut-out complementary to said tab extension, said central tab extension being formed with a. pair of slits extending inwardly from the side edges of said tab extension and with a. U-shaped, slit between said pair of slits, said U-shaped slit forming a tongue and said pair of slits forming. points, the slits-in said tab extension forming a member foldable about portions of the tab between the inner ends of said pair of slits and the outer ends of said U-shaped slits, to a position at right angles to said tab extension.

5. A support for supporting the collar of a shirt comprising a member made of a single piece of cardboard and provided with an inner flap and an outer flap and being generally of horseshoe shape and joined together by two portions spaced from each other on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps and adapted to be received within the collar of a shirt so that the front flap con tacts the inner surface of the front and sides of the collar band, and means at the lower edge of the central portion of the front flap engageable with the underside of the front of the shirt adjacent the collar of the shirt, to retain said collar support against accidental dislodgement from the shirt.

6. A support adapted to be placed within the neck band of a collar of a shirt for supporting the collar comprising a member made of a single piece of cardboard and provided with an inner flap and an outer flap and being generally of horseshoe shape so that the outer flap contacts the inner surface of the front and sides of the collar band, and means at the lower edge of the central portion of the outer flap engageable with the underside of the front of the shirt adjacent the collar of the shirt, to retain said collar support against accidental dislodgement from the shirt, said means comprising a member integrally formed with said outer flap and foldable about portions joining said member with said outer flap, said member normally being in the plane of said outer flap and projectin downwardly therefrom and being foldable to bring the lower end of said member to a position substantially at right angles to said outer flap.

'7. A support adapted to be placed within the neckband of a collar of a shirt for supporting the collar comprising an element made of a single piece of cardboard and provided with an inner flap and an outer flap and being generally of horseshoe shape and joined together by two portions spaced from each other on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps and adapted to" be received within the collar of a shirt so that the outer flap contacts the inner surface of the front and sides of the collar band, and means at the lower edge of the central portion of the outer flap engageable with the underside of the front of the shirt adjacent the collar of the shirt, to retain said collar support against accidental dislodgement from the shirt, said means comprising a member integrally formed with said outer flap and foldable about portions joining said member with said outer flap, said member normally being in the plane of said outer flap and projecting downwardly therefrom and being foldable to bring the lower end of said member to a position substantially at right angles to said outer flap, and said member including a tongue normally projecting upwardly toward the top of the outer flap, but swingable forwardly when said member is foldable about said joining portions, to engage beneath the front of the shirt.

8. A shirt collar support made of a single sheet of semi-stiff, resilient sheet material, comprising a generally U-shaped member provided with an outer flap and an inner flap joined by at least one folded portion spaced inwardly from the ends of the flaps, and said flaps having outwardly extending wings inclined to the same side of the middle of the support, said shirt collar support being insertable into the collar of. a shirt, and one of said flaps having means engageable beneath the front of the shirt adjacent the shirt collar to aid in retaining the shirt collar support within said collar, said means including a tongue normally projecting upwardly towards the top of the outer flap when the tongue is in the plane of said outer flap and said tongue being foldable forwardly and outwardly to a position at right angles to said outer flap.

9. A collar support blank made of a single piece of sheet material and comprising an inner flap and an outer flap coextensive therewith, and joined together at two spaced portions on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps, and said flaps being separated between said joined portions and between the joined portions and the outer ends of the flaps.

10. A collar support blank made of a single piece of sheet material and comprising an inner flap and an outer flap coextensive therewith, and joined together at two spaced portions on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps, said flaps being separated between said joined portions and between the joined portions and the outer ends of the flaps, said flaps having middle portions and parallel wings inclined from said middle portions outwardly to the same side.

11. A collar support blank made of a single piece of sheet material and comprising an inner U flap and an outer flap coextensive therewith, and joined together at two spaced portions on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps, and said flaps being separated between said joined portions and between the joined portions and the outer ends of the flaps, said flaps having middle portions and parallel wings inclined from said middle portions outwardly to the same side, the outer end edges of each flap being parallel to one another and the outer edges of one flap being continuations of the outer edges of the other flap.

12. A collar support blank made of a single piece of sheet material and comprising an inner flap and an outer flap coextensive therewith, and

joined together at two spaced portions on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps, and said flaps being separated between said joined portions and between the joined portions and the outer ends of the flaps, said flaps having middle portions and parallel wings inclined from said middle l portions outwardly to the same side, the outer end edges of each flap being parallel to one another and the outer edges of one flap being continuations of the outer edges of the other flap, the outer flap being formed with a central tab extension and the inner flap being formed with a cut-out complementary to said tab extension.

13. A collar support blank made of a single piece of sheet material and comprising an inner flap and an outer flap coextensive therewith, and joined together at two spaced portions on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps, and said flaps being separated between said joined portions and between the joined portions and the outer ends of the flaps, said flaps having middle portions and parallel wings inclined from said middle portions outwardly to the same side, the outer end edges of each flap being parallel to one another and the outer edges of one flap being continuations of the outer edges of the other flap, the outer flap being formed with a central tab extension and the inner flap being formed with a cut-out complementary to said tab extension, the wings of the inner flap being, wider than the wings of the outer flap,

14. A collar support insertable within the neckband of a collar of a shirt made of a single piece of cardboard, said support being generally of U-shape, and comprising an outer flap having a front portion inclined downwardly and forwardly and outer wings extending rearwardly and outwardly from the front portion, and an inner flap joined at its upper edge to the upper edge of the outer flap at portions spaced from each other on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps, and said inner flap comprising a front portion inclined downwardly and rearwardly, and wings extending therefrom.

15. A collar support insertable within the neckband of a collar of a shirt, and made of a single piece of cardboard, said support being generally of 'U-shape, and comprising an outer flap having a front portion inclined downwardly and forwardly and outer wings extending rearwardly and outwardly from the front portion, and an inner fla joined at its upper edge to the upper edge of th outer flap at portions spaced from each other on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps, and said inner flap comprising a front portion inclined downwardly and rearwardly, and wings extending therefrom, the front portion of the outer flap having a downwardly projecting tab extension and the front portion of said inner flap having at its lower end a cut-out complementary to said tab extension.

16. A collar support insertable within the neckband of a collar of a shirt, and made of a single piece of cardboard, said support being generally of U-shape, and comprising an outer flap having a front portion inclined downwardly and forwardly and outer wings xtending rearwardly and outwardly from the front portion, and an inner flap joined at its upper edge to the upper edge of the outer flap at portions spaced from each other on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps, and said inner flap comprising a front portion inclined downwardly and rearwardly, and wings extending therefrom, the front portion of the outer flap having a downwardly projecting tab extension and the front portion of said inner fiap having at its lower nd a cut-out complementary to said tab extension, the outer end edges of the wings of the outer flap being inclined downwardly and forwardly, and the outer edges of the wings of the inner flap being inclined downwardly and rearwardly, and extending beyond the outer edges of the wings of the outer flap.

1'7. A collar support insertable within the neckband of a collar of a shirt, and made of a single piece of cardboard, said support being generally of U-shape, and comprising an outer flap having a front ortion inclined downwardly and forwardly and outer wings extending rearwardly and outwardly from the front portion, and an inner flap joined at its upper edge to the upper edge of the outer flap at portions spaced from each other on opposite sides of the middle of said flaps, and said inner flap comprising a front portion inclined downwardly and rearwardly, and wings extending therefrom, the front portion of the outer flap having a downwardly projecting tab extension and the front portion of said inner flap having at its lower end a cut-out complementary to said tab extension, the outer end edges of the wings of the outer flap being inclined downwardly and forwardly, and the outer edges of the wings of the inner flap being inclined downwardly and rearwardly, and extending beyond the outer edges of the wings of the outer flap, the

I 1 outer edges of the wings of said inner and outer flaps being pinked.

18. A one-piece collar supporting and protecting device for finished and folded shirts, comprising a collar supporting band for engaging the inner neck-engaging face of the neck ,fold of the collar, and a bracing band substantially coextensive with said supporting band and hingedly connected with the upper edge thereof along a longitudinal slightly curved fold line allowing only limited folding of the bands short of complete collapsing of the bracing band within said supporting band whereby said bracing band is maintained in rearwardly inclined relation to the supporting band when the device is in supporting position inside the shirt collar with both bands 12 having lower edge portions in supporting engagement with the inner face of the back portion of the shirt.

CAESAR A. CALDER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,816,539 Lerman July 28, 1931 1,837,567 Mead Dec. 22, 1931 2,078,761 Herrlinger Apr. 27, 1937 2,149,192 Steele Feb. 28, 1939 2,289,073 Ross et a1 July 7, 1942 15 2,323,866 Burton July 6, 1943 

